THOMAS ZIPP: URANLICHT

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Harris Lieberman is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by Berlin-based artist Thomas Zipp.

Zipp mines the symbols and mythologies of art history, politics, science, popular culture, and philosophy to create his personal vision of a new future. He directly engages with the dark troubles of the past, accepting them as a potential catalyst for change. Zipp’s work equally embraces the surreal, creating dream-like narratives, which blend beauty and the grotesque, fantasy and the absurd.

In the front gallery, Zipp will install a large futuristic organ, which the artist and his friend, Stefan Branca, will play during the opening reception. This sculptural installation is composed of disparate elements, from old industrial and mechanical parts to a siren from the former East Germany. The musical components of the organ are contained within a series of black cubes, carrying the sound-producing elements of the piece. This work continues Zipp’s interest in the visionary aspect of Italian Futurism and the Modern age.

In addition, the artist will present a series of large-scale paintings, many of which depict imaginary plants. The largest of these works, Uranlicht (Uranium Light), is a post-apocalyptic landscape with a strange sky made up of an intricate square pattern. Like all of Zipp’s work, these paintings address the subtle tension between creative and destructive energies.

Thomas Zipp is a graduate of the Staedelschule, Frankfurt and the Slade School of Art, London. Currently, his work is included in the Berlin Biennale. Recent museum exhibitions include the Kunstverein Oldenburg and the Migros Museum, Zurich. He has also had recent solo shows at Galerie Guido W. Baudach, Berlin and Allison Jacques Gallery, London.